The Ripon Christian High girls’ varsity soccer squad played a bend-but-don’t-break defense against visiting Mariposa on Monday.
The result of that was a scoreless tie in the Southern League clash.
“We had our chances,” said Knights coach Kevin Tameling.
RC (1-0-1 SL, 3-0-3) withstood several threats by the Grizzlies (2-0-1 SL, 3-1-0), including one last barrage in the closing minute.
The defense behind the play of goalie Nicole Chapman – she came away with 10 saves – Kirsi Vander Meulen, Gracie Van Vliet and Kayla Stuit coupled with midfielders Thea Vander Meulen, Taylor Alger and Adriana Arias, to name a few, helped fend off the Mariposa attackers.
In doing so, they kept the RC scoreless game streak to five straight shutouts, according to Tameling.
“They had 70 percent of the possessions,” he said of the Grizzlies on controlling the ball. “We had the same, if not more, quality chances (at scoring).”
Ruby Yager, Jasmine Lopez and Lupin Amstutz helped initiate the attack for Mariposa, considered one of the league’s powerhouses.
Elle Van Wyngarden and Madison de Graaf did likewise for RC.
The Knights will host Argonaut in a non-league affair on Friday.
Manteca 1, Central Catholic 1
The Buffaloes battled the Raiders to a draw in Monday’s Valley Oak League match at Guss Schmiedt Field.
Manteca (1-0-1 VOL, 3-3-3) will host Kimball on Wednesday.
East Union 4, Oakdale 1
Jasmin Mejia scored three times to boost the Lancers past the Mustangs at Dino Cunial Field on Monday.
Gabriella Cruz kicked things off for East Union (2-0 VOL, 7-1-1) with a nice shot that occurred in the opening 45 seconds of the game, according to Lancers coach Carlos Gaspar.
Mejia’s first of her hat trick provided the Lancers with a 2-1 lead at the intermission, and plenty of insurance soon after that.
“Our defense behind our goalie (Malia Allen) did a great job, too,” Gaspar said.
Allen had four saves against Oakdale (0-2 VOL, 4-5-1).
East Union will travel to Franklin for a non-league match on Thursday.
Sierra 4, Kimball 0
Timberwolves opened VOL play with a win over the visiting Jaguars.
Sierra (1-0 VOL, 13-2-1) forged out to a 1-0 first-half lead on Callie Crain’s score that came off an assist by Jordyn Shinn.
Crain, who scored twice, followed a goal by Shinn in the second half. Tiana Cello had two assists, including the set one that set up the Shinn goal to make it 2-0.
The Timberwolves led 3-0 at that point.
Cello then assisted Melanie Nguyen’s score for the final outcome.
“Kimball (1-1 VOL, 4-5-1) gave us a good battle,” said Timberwolves coach Manuel Pires, who also praised his defense.
In particular, center backs Bella Castro and Crain along with Kaitlyn Berdiago.
In addition, goal keeper Michaela Bitle had five saves to help preserve the shutout.
Sierra will travel to Oakdale on Wednesday.
Lathrop 7, Davis 1
Kassandra Ceja scored all five or her goals in the first half to propel the Spartans past Davis in Western Athletic Conference play on Monday.
Alessandra Giordano got the fireworks started with the opening score to make it 1-0, Lathrop (2-1 WAC, 3-3-1).
Ceja poured in her goals from there. The Spartans led 6-1 at the break.
Jayna Rodriguez added the finishing touch, scoring the final goal in the second half.
“Our defense played great,” said Lathrop coach Jose Montes. “They had to it together.”
The Spartans will travel to Beyer on Wednesday’s WAC matchup.
Boys soccer
Mariposa 6, RC 3
The Knights opened league play with a home loss to the Grizzlies on Monday.
RC (0-1-1 SL, 1-6-1) led early on, getting goals from Matthijs Moret and Benjamin Schooland to make it 2-0 in the first 15 minutes.
Mariposa (2-1 SL, 3-3) stormed back, scoring on a penalty kick to tie the game up at 2-2 and going ahead by the break.
The Grizzlies added another score early in the second half only to have the Knights’ Hakyeom Park close the deficit, 4-3.
Mariposa later added some insurance.
RC will take on Argonaut on Friday.
